Trouble in the 90's

Boy Meets World (MC: Rider Strong)

Time Setting: Shawn staying at the Matthew's while his dad (Chet) was chasing after his mom and before being placed with Jon.

"Cory, let go of my jeans. I can't stay here anymore. You know I can't. I've gotta go make myself a new life 'caus there's no way in hell my dad's coming back for me." Shawn hung halfway out Cory's bedroom window, his torso nearly split in half from his weight on the sill.

Cory wouldn't let go. There was no way he was about to let his best friend, who was closer to him than his own brother, ruin his life by running off again. "C'mon, wait...I'm sure he'll come back. Chet always comes back...maybe not until a year from now, but he will. You can always stay here with us. You're pretty much family."

Shawn sighed. "Yeah, I know, but your parents, dude— they are so f*cking strict. I'm sick of them breathing down my neck all the time. That's what their own kids are for. I'm on my own. Always have been. Always will be."

"Wait, Sh-" Before Cory could protest further, Shawn shook his leg, loosening his grip. Shawn then slid down the tree and onto the ground, making the task look easy.

"Bye, Cory," he half-yelled as he crept into the shadows.

"Sh*t...What do I do now? Why again? Why did he have to do this again? My parents are gonna have a hay day on my ass if I don't stop him." Cory's breathing grew more rapid as his thoughts swirled inside his young, fruitless brain.

Eric stirred and moaned.

"Eric...I think he's a faster runner than me. Yep. I'm gonna need him for sure." With that singular thought pinging around in his mind, Cory jostled his brother until he woke up, steaming mad.

Eric shoved Cory, causing him to fall to the floor. "Knock it off, dude. It's bad enough we share the same room. Don't make me have to kill you."

Cory groaned as he shimmied himself back onto his feet. "You're such a turd. Why'd you push me? Whatever...I just need your help, like now. It's Shawn again. He disappeared."

Eric, with his sarcastic wit, mocked his younger brother's whining. "Oh, boo hoo. He's basically an adult. If he wants to go, so what? He always ends back up here anyway."

"Plea-"

The lights flickered on. "Who ends back up here?" Amy's kind and unassuming voice drilled itself into the boys' ears, melting their chances at getting away with anything. Mom guilt at its best.

"Mom...hi," Cory said, flinching. He rocked on his feet. "Um...so..."

"Shawn, isn't it?" Amy asked.

Cory sighed. "Yeah, yet again."

Amy folded her arms and narrowed her steamy eyes. "Don't you worry about him. I'm going to call your father, and he will look for him. Did he just leave?"

"Sort of...but he could be anywhere by now."

"Well, why didn't you stop him?"

"I-," Cory started.

Eric put his hand up. "I got this one, Cor...Mom, you know Shawn. He's slick. It's not Cory's fault."

"Right." She nodded. "Good point...well, he won't be long for this world if he keeps this up."

"Why do you say that?" Cory asked.

"You know your father. Remember the last time you tried something a third time? Do you remember how lenient your dad was?"

Cory scratched his head. "Uh...I don't remember ever trying anything even a second time 'caus I know dad would be really upset."

Eric piped up. "More than just upset...Dad nearly hung me from the roof when I snuck out to my second party, remember? My butt was on fire for a week. He doesn't play around...Shawn's dead for sure."